Sunday, December 10, 2023

Apple Pie Cookies “a la mode”


Ingredients

Filling (or the canned filling in my link)

  • 3 cups (350 g) cored, peeled, diced apples see note 
  • ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar firmly packed 
  • 2 Tablespoons (28 g) butter salted or unsalted
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened 
  • 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar firmly packed 
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Streusel

  • 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted buttermelted
  • 1 ¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar firmly packed
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar 65g
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Buttercream “ice cream”

  • ½ cups (113 g) unsalted buttersoftened to room temperature 
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

Glaze

  • 1 cup (125 g) powdered sugar
  • 1-2 Tablespoons whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

Apple Filling

  • Combine apples, sugar, butter, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a medium sized skillet over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.
    3 cups (350 g) cored, peeled, diced apples, ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons (28 g) butter, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Increase heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
  • Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof bowl. Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the dough.

Cookie Dough

  • Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Combine softened butter and sugars in a large bowl and use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with paddle attachment) to beat until light and fluffy.
    1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar
  • Add eggs and vanilla and stir until combined.
    2 large eggs, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • In a separate, medium-sized bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons cornstarch, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
  • Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, stirring until completely combined.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill slightly while you prepare the streusel.

    Streusel
    • Melt butter in a small bowl and allow to cool until no longer warm to the touch.
      6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter
    • Combine flour, sugars, salt and cinnamon in medium-sized bowl and stir until combined.
      1 ¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour, ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • Drizzle cooled butter into flour mixture and claw together with a fork until you have a clumpy streusel.

      Assembly

      • Remove apple filling and cookie dough from refrigerator.
      • Scoop dough by 2 Tablespoon-sized balls and roll until smooth. Place on baking sheet and make an indent in the cookie (I used the back of the cookie scoop to make indent – do not push too deep or make the cookie too thin or the cookie won’t be able to support the weight of it after baking)).
      • Scoop a level Tablespoon of filling into the indent you just created
      • Take a small handful of streusel (about 1 Tablespoon) and nestle gently into the filling. Use enough to completely cover the filling.
      • Transfer to center rack of 350F (175C) oven for 13-14 minutes or until edges begin to turn a light golden brown. Allow to cool completely before decorating with glaze and “ice cream” (below, if using).

      Buttercream “ice cream”:

      • Beat butter, salt, and vanilla in large bowl using an electric mixer until butter is smooth.
        ½ cups (113 g) unsalted butter, ⅛ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
      • Add powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, waiting until each cup is completely mixed before adding more. Once finished, the buttercream should be very stiff, almost a play-dough like consistency. It should be easy to roll into a ball. Add more powdered sugar, if needed, to reach proper consistency.
        3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
      • Set aside while you prepare the vanilla bean glaze.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Greek Chickpea Lemon Soup (Pressure Canned)

Greek Chickpea Lemon Soup




makes 7 Quarts - adapted from USDA any soup

3 pounds dry chickpeas (about 6 cups)
3 large onions, diced (red is best but any will do)
2-3 carrots. diced
2-3 celery ribs , diced
3 Tbsp diced garlic 
12 cups vegetable broth
8 cups water
4 Tbsp dried oregano
1 sprig of rosemary - needles only - chopped finely
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
3 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less depending on taste)
2 Tbsp kosher salt (optional)
1 Tbsp black pepper


1.    Boil chickpeas and turn off heat - soak one hour, then drain
2.    Split the chickpeas evenly between 7 clean quart jars
3.    Using a large soup pot, add the rest of the ingredients
4.    Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes
5.    Remove the bay leaves
6.    Fill the jars with soup to 1/2" headspace - add hot water if not enough liquid
7.    Pressure can for 90 minutes according to your canner instructions

Add GOOD olive oil, lemon slices, a dollop of Greek yogurt, and fresh parsley when serving.

Chickpea Tomato Curry (Pressure Canned)

Tomato Chickpea Curry Soup

makes 7 Quarts - adapted from USDA any soup




2 pounds dry chickpeas (about 4 cups)
32 oz canned tomatoes (I used home canned)
1 large onion, rough chopped
2-3 carrots
1 Tbsp diced garlic (4-5 cloves)
12 cups vegetable broth (64 oz)
12 cups water
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp cumin
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp garam masala
1 Tbsp 2 paprika
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cayenne (to taste - optional)
1 Tbsp 2 kosher salt (to taste - optional)
2 tsp sugar (optional)

1.    Boil chickpeas and turn off heat - soak one hour, then drain
2.    Split the chickpeas evenly between 7 clean quart jars
3.    Using a large soup pot, add the rest of the ingredients
4.    Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes
5.    Blend the mixture with an emersion blender
6.    Fill the jars with soup to 1/2" headspace - add hot water if not enough liquid
7.    Pressure can for 90 minutes according to your canner instructions

(If not canning, add chick peas to soup and cook until tender - you will have to add additional water).

Ghost Pepper Peach Hot Sauce

Ingredients 6 ghost peppers chopped 1.5 bell peppers chopped 1 medium onion chopped 8 cloves of garlic chopped 2 carrots chopped 8 oz. canne...